Transmitter buoy



Feb. 21, 1950 G. H. ARENsTElN 2,497,852

TRANSMITTER BUOY Filed March l, 1945 PHD/0 TRHNSM/ 7' TL'R IN VEN TOR.

TTO N EYS Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Grantedunder the lact of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G.757) 3 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Goverment for governmental purposes, without the payment to me ofany royalty thereon.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to floatable orbuoyant radio transmitting sets.

The general type of buoy is disclosed in my copending application Ser.No. 539,173 filed June '7, 1944 and now Patent No. 2,402.143.

In emergencies at sea such as ship wrecks, for` instance, signalingdevices giving the location are invaluable aids to rescue. Many othervaluable uses may be made of such devices. Spotting of life boats, orthe like launched or released from wrecked ships or planes in waroperations or similar spotting of enemy submarines are among other uses.In fact, it may be safely stated, that a signaling device which may beplaced at a given point to deliver a given signal, while the placingplane or other agency a returns to base or continues iiight and relaysinformation, may have an almost innite number* of uses or applications.Particularly are such devices valuable aids when capable of use by andwith planes.

While the present invention makes use of antenna erection devices,transmitting mechanism and keel or buoyancy stabilizing devices of thesame general type and operation as the corresponding features disclosedin my above co- The present invention has been developed, i

particularly, to overcome that objection.

In order to more clearly disclose the construction, operation and use ofthe invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawingforming part of the present application.

In the drawing, the single gure of the drawing is a central longitudinalcross section rwith the parts in the assembled inoperative position.

An outer cylindrical casing I is constructed and arranged to slidablyreceive in radially spaced relation an inner cylinder 2 having a greatlyreduced tubular stem or extension 3 in continuation thereof andconcentrically therewith, the lower or free end of that extension-'beingexteriorily screw threaded as at 4, for purposes to be later disclosed.

In the buoy of' nism 2b having a ballistic antenna 2c. of course, as inmy above application, a central The upper end of cylinder 2 may beadequately capped by a cover 5 threaded thereon in a well openingthrough the cover 5 for projection of the ballistic` antenna which issubstantially the same-as in said application and which is also operatedin substantially the same way as in my above copending application.

The' outer cylindrical casing I is releasably secured to and suspendedfrom the inner cylin- .der 2fby the snap hook releasing means 5a in thesame manner as described in my previously mentioned copendingapplication and is released 'in the same manner. As in my copendingapplication,- the` outer cylindrical casing l `may be'iwelighted -as atI5 for eiecting stabilization of the buoy and have perforations I6 atits lower end to admit sea water.

Instead of the -usual conventional batteries using a mechanical switch,a sea cell or seawater activated battery 'I is used in this invention.In order to maintain this battery immediately accessible to sea-waterfor its prompt activation, it is formed as an annular cylinder or acylinder with a central bore 8 of just slightly greater diameter thanthe outside diameter of stem 3, making a snug sliding t therewith, andis of substantially the same length as stem 3. The outside diameter of'I is also substantially that of the outside diameter of the bodyportion of inner cylinder 2. Thus, in assembled relation, there will bean annular radial space between I and 2 and between I and 'Iapproximately equal to the radial length of the ange 9 of thecylindrical casing I. Such a battery is completely inert and inactiveuntil activated by infiltration of sea water, accordingly it does notdeteriorate in the same way or to the same extent as does theconventional battery, and, as will be obvious, all mechanical switchesare eliminated in its use.

Supporting battery 'I in position about 3 is a bulk-head plate I0,provided with a screwthreaded opening for removable connection to thethreaded portion 4 of 3, or the opening may 'be- 'Unthreaded and athreaded nut used to support it inI place.` The' lower end of stem 3 issealed tight withv any suitable insulating plug I I and in' that'plugare mounted- Vthe connectors I2 for establishing contact betweenthe battery 1 and the power lines I2a extendinglup through 3 3 to theradio transmitting mechanism insidethe body of the inner cylinder 2.

In order to activate the battery 1, sea water must be given access tothe inside thereof. that purpose rip patches I3 are provided in theouter wall or surface of 7, adapted to be automatically torn olf toprovide inlet of sea water at those points. As shown, two such patchesare used. The invention, of course, is not limited to two. Likewise,they may be of various sizes and proportions. They are shown near theopposite ends of the b-attery and it is believed that such dispositionis most practicable and eicient but is is also believed the inventionwill be found to be thoroughly operable with them placed at otherpoints.

These patches, preferably, are connected to a pull cord I4 which extendsfrom the patches upwardly between cylinders I and 2, through the flange9 on I to a suitable connection with the load cord I1 of the parachute.Thus, as the buoy is dropped, the pull cord, at a predetermined point,will rip patches I3 from the battery 'I opening it to inow of sea water.Then, as in my copending application, another pull cord I8 leading fromthe load line to the snap hook releasing connection a between I and 2will sever these connections, permitting the outer cylinder I to drop.

In its drop, the cylindrical casing I will pass below battery 1, itsange 9 engaging the outer portion of plate I 0 from which the outercylinder remains suspended and acting as a keel or balance. Theseoperations are so timed that the battery 7, with patches I3 ripped off,will be exposed either before the buoy reaches the surface orimmediately thereafter.

As the buoy strikes the water it is automatically released from theparachute to prevent fouling, as in my copending application. The innercylinder 2 containing the radio transmitter has sucient air space tobuoyantly sustain all th elements connected thereto in the water.

The breaking of the pull cords for the tear patches and for the releaseof cylinder I from cylinder 2 are performed as are the breakings ofsimilar pull cords in my copending applicationi. e. they arerespectively broken when predetermined stresses applied to them areexceeded, all as will be readily understood.

It is thought that the construction, operation and use of the inventionwill be clear from the preceding detailed description. Y

Changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and disposition ofthe various parts of the invention within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the eld of the invention and it is meantto include all such within this application wherein only one preferredform of the invention has been shown purely by way of illustration andwith no thought or intent to, in any degree, limit the applicationthereby. y

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by4Letters Patent is:

l. A transmitter buoy for being dropped into the sca by parachutecomprising, a perforated cylindrical casing having an inwardly directedstop means on its upper end and a weighted lower end for verticalstabilization in water, an air tight cylinder in telescopic slidablerelation within said cylindrical casing and containing a radiotransmitting means and having outwardly turned stop means adjacentopposite ends thereof in cooperative4 engageable relation with said stopmeans of said cylindrical casing to limit sliding movement with saidcylindrical casing through the end thereof opposite said weighted lowerend to the extent in either direction of said stop means on said airtight cylinder coming into engagement with the stop means of saidcylindrical casing to enclose said cylinder within said cylindricalcasing in one limited position and to suspend said cylindrical casing atthe lower extremity of said cylinder in the other limited position, thelower extremity of said cylinder being greatly reduced in diameter andsupporting a sea-water activated battery thereon, said seawateractivated battery having its terminals sealingly connected to saidtransmitter to provide power thereto upon activation by sea-water, andreleasable means for holding said cylinder in its limited positionwithin the cylindrical casing.

l 2. A transmitter buoy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sea-wateractivated battery is provided with tear patches to condition the batteryfor sea-water activation, said tear patches and said releasable meansbeing connected by a rip cord whereby a jerk of said rip cord willcondition the buoy for operation in the sea.

3. A transmitter buoy for being dropped into the water by parachutecomprising, a perforated cylindrical casing having a weighted lower endand a circular opening internally shouldered upper end, an air tightcylinder containing a radio transmitting mechanism slidable within saidcylindrical casing through said circular opening internally shoulderedupper end, said cylinder having an outwardly projecting shoulder at itsupper end and a depending tubular extenson terminating in an outwardlyextending iiange for limiting the relative inward and outward movementof said cylinder with respect to said cylindrical casing by engagementof the shoulders and flange, a sea-water activated battery removablymounted on said depending extension having leads sealingly passingthrough said cylinder to connect said transmitter, a snap hook operativeby a rip cord connecting the outwardly projecting shoulder of saidcylinder and the cylindrical casing to releasably retain said cylinderin said cylindrical casing in said inward limit of movement, and tearpatches on said sea-water activated battery attached to a second ripcord, said two rip cords adapted to be connected to a parachute loadcord whereby upon the buoy being dropped by parachute the snap hookwould be actuated to release said cylindrical casing and said cylinderto slide to theirv outward limit and said tear patches would be rippedoi to condition said battery to be activated by water for energizationof said transmitting mechanism. y

GILBERT H. ARENSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the :Ille ofthis patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS

